He responded to the cancellation by the U

Washington puts the cap on Latin America. Before the Summit of the Americas this weekend in Trinidad and Tobago, the American President is now the Mexico. If it is his first official visit of head of State, is not his first meeting with his Mexican counterpart, Felipe Calderon. The two Presidents met in January in Washington, shortly before the inauguration of Obama, and already laid the foundation of the big issues of cooperation... with friction.

First of all, this is obviously the fight against drug trafficking, priority record between all for Mexican President engaged in a deadly struggle against the drug cartels, which caused more than 5,000 dead violent last year. On this, Barack Obama is, at least in words, showed up to the expectations of the Mexico, by recognizing the share of responsibility of the United States, first global customer for cocaine trafficking, and in committing to actively assist President Calderon.

The "remesas" retreating

Other topics are less consensual. The two countries are closely linked commercially in NAFTA (which also has the Canada) and in these times of recession, Mexico facing any protectionist desire its overwhelming neighbour, which absorbs 80 of its exports. He responded to the cancellation by the U.S. Congress, of a bilateral agreement on the movement of the heavy weight by increasing many rights of customs.

The theme of immigration, remains the most sensitive record of bilateral relations, especially one on which Barack Obama is expected. The figures are eloquent: some 12 million Mexicans living and working in the United States, including more than half illegally. They are a key element of the Mexican economy via the famous "remesas", financial transfers of migrants to their families remained in the country, which is the second source of the Mexico behind the oil currency. However, according to the Central Bank of the country, the amount of the remesas fell 3.6 last year, to $ 25.1 billion, after more than ten years of increase in a row. A decline linked to the crisis, of course, but the hardening of us policy towards illegal immigration. Under the Bush administration, Congress has not simply vote the construction of a wall, but it has also delayed indefinitely a bipartisan bill for legalization, term, of illegal workers.

The crisis is changing the equation

The two sides of the border, Mexicans hope fervently that Barack Obama will reactivate this project this year. His administration work, according to the "New York Times" on a reform of immigration in 2009 and Felipe Calderon is sure to put pressure on his American counterpart in this sense. The Democratic candidate Barack Obama had given of wages careful community immigrant during his campaign, launching even a vibrant "Lichter, I need you!" in a 100 latino of the New Mexico town.

But the global crisis changes the deal. Since his election, Barack Obama is working all-out, to honor his campaign promises and he is bound to reassure his host about its intentions. But it will be difficult to advocate the legalization in addition of 11 million illegal immigrants when unemployment jumped to 8.5, it could exceed the 10 and the unions, who have overwhelmingly supported the campaign of the candidate, are on the lookout.